Religious Tourism in Khmelnytskyi Region

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the phenomenon of religious tourism in Khmelnytskyi region. It is noted that religious tourism is realized in two formats: sightseeing and pilgrimage. It is stated that under modern conditions of Khmelnytskyi region there is a powerful layer of various religious monuments. Among these are, pagan «places of power», settlements-sanctuaries, temples, sacrificial wells, rock temples, dolmens, stone monumentalism. Christianity is widely represented: churches, cathedrals, churches, monasteries, churches, chapels. The Jewish sacred heritage is the follows; synagogues and necropolises became widespread in the region. Remains are considered interesting tourist locations elements of Muslim mosques and minarets. Emphasis is placed on the diversity of architectural forms, styles, purpose of religious buildings: stone churches, churches, defensive synagogues, wooden temples, rotunda churches; built in neo-Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Late Baroque, Classical, Greek, «pseudo-Russian», local styles; regimental churches, castle temples. Some examples of the historical past and present of sacred buildings are given. Emphasis is placed on the insufficiently-studied locations of religious tourism, they are «kissing ponds» — wells, springs, streams, lakes, many of which are in Khmelnytskyi region. Interesting tourist locations can be settlements that have given impetus to the development of various cultural phenomena related to religion. Sacred monuments destroyed during the Soviet period can have a powerful potential. Their identification, restoration, popularization will provide a solid basis for a broad understanding of the history of the region, the restoration of lost cultural strata and national memory.